UK fashion retailer Next to sell apparel online in US

The UK retailer will provide Sears.com with menswear and womenswear ranges, shoes and accessories. The US chain will be the exclusive seller of Next in the country.

In a statement announcing the deal, Sears described Next as "a superstar name in home-shopping".

In signing up with Sears, Next has circumnavigated the pitfalls that have dogged many UK retailers who have tried to crack the US by opening stores. Marks & Spencer, J Sainsbury and Dixons all had ill-fated forays over there. Tesco, the UK's biggest retailer, is making losses at its Fresh & Easy convenience chain on the East Coast. However Topshop and Burberry are two UK fashion retailers that have caused a positive stir with US openings recently.

Imran Jooma, president of e-commerce at Sears Holdings, said that Next will bring an "international appeal" to its offering.

"Next gives customers both style and affordability, so they don't have to choose between the two. By bringing must-have fashion statements from brands like Next, our customers will be able to shop for international styles, all in one place at Sears," said Mr Jooma.

Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise, Next's chief executive, said last week that the retailer would seek growth by increasing retail space, especially for home products, expanding its Next Directory home shopping business and investing overseas.

Lord Wolfson warned that there will be a "new normal" in the economy in the years ahead which will be characterised by low growth.

A Next spokesman said that the US deal marks a toe in the water for the retailer.

He said that it is "great to be associated" with such a big and well-known name in US retail but stressed that it is "very early days".